C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

adding larger wheels to C4

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 1, 2010 | 10:17 PM
  #1  
oldtvman's Avatar
oldtvman
Thread Starter
Navigator
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Default adding larger wheels to C4

I bought a set of wheel spacers from Ecklers some time ago and I have a set of wheels and tires from a c6, trouble is when I installed the new set, some of the lugs on the spacers kept coming loose, I will probably try using lock washers unless someone else has a better idea.
Reply
Old Aug 1, 2010 | 10:29 PM
  #2  
Blame's Avatar
Blame
Pro
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Fl
Default

I got C6 ZO6 rim on my baby. Got the 1 1/4 adapters and never had that trouble. I did torque them to 125 lb. You should try that.
Reply
Old Aug 1, 2010 | 10:37 PM
  #3  
socalman's Avatar
socalman
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
Default

Originally Posted by oldtvman
I bought a set of wheel spacers from Ecklers some time ago and I have a set of wheels and tires from a c6, trouble is when I installed the new set, some of the lugs on the spacers kept coming loose, I will probably try using lock washers unless someone else has a better idea.
the lug nuts should be tapered which will center the adapter. If you use lock washers, you may offset the adapter and get a wobble. Gotta crank em, like the other poster said.
Reply
Old Aug 1, 2010 | 10:38 PM
  #4  
maroon88iroc's Avatar
maroon88iroc
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 865
Likes: 20
From: warner robins Georgia
Default

Originally Posted by Blame
I got C6 ZO6 rim on my baby. Got the 1 1/4 adapters and never had that trouble. I did torque them to 125 lb. You should try that.
125 ft pounds seems high, Be careful overtightening the wheel to the spacer b/c those studs turn/break off in that aluminum spacer mighty easily.

I run spacers on my buick grand national and I had a problem breaking the studs off the rotor and of course that is inside the spacer and you cant tell if there is a problem untill removing the wheel. I take all the wheels off every once in awhile to make sure they are all ok b/c when the ones broke off on me before the wheel almost came off which would not have been good.
Reply
Old Aug 1, 2010 | 10:45 PM
  #5  
jrzvette's Avatar
jrzvette
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Default

You should use adaptors, not spacers. Adaptors bolt onto the original studs and have their own studs for holding the wheel. With spacers you should replace the original studs with longer ones to give the lug nuts enough length to seat properly.

Last edited by jrzvette; Aug 1, 2010 at 10:47 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 1, 2010 | 10:48 PM
  #6  
maroon88iroc's Avatar
maroon88iroc
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 865
Likes: 20
From: warner robins Georgia
Default

Originally Posted by jrzvette
You should use adaptors, not spacers. Adaptors bolt onto the original lug bolts and have their own bolts for holding the wheel. With spacers you should replace the original lug bolts with longer bolts to give the lug nuts enough length to seat properly.
Idk if you were talkin to the OP or me But the ones on my buick are adaptors. most people call them spacers because it is the same bolt pattern on both sides... Im sure the op has the same kind tho b/c that is what is common.
Reply
Old Aug 1, 2010 | 10:50 PM
  #7  
Blame's Avatar
Blame
Pro
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Fl
Default

Originally Posted by maroon88iroc
125 ft pounds seems high, Be careful over tightening the wheel to the spacer b/c those studs turn/break off in that aluminum spacer mighty easily.

I run spacers on my Buick grand national and I had a problem breaking the studs off the rotor and of course that is inside the spacer and you cant tell if there is a problem until removing the wheel. I take all the wheels off every once in awhile to make sure they are all OK b/c when the ones broke off on me before the wheel almost came off which would not have been good.
For the corvette it call for a 100lb of torque to each lug nut. Adding 25 more lb won't break a lug, unless you are putting a lot of force behind it.
Reply
Old Aug 1, 2010 | 10:52 PM
  #8  
socalman's Avatar
socalman
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
Default

Originally Posted by oldtvman
I bought a set of wheel spacers from Ecklers some time ago and I have a set of wheels and tires from a c6, trouble is when I installed the new set, some of the lugs on the spacers kept coming loose, I will probably try using lock washers unless someone else has a better idea.
to clarify- do you have these (adapters)

Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
Old Aug 2, 2010 | 07:43 PM
  #9  
oldtvman's Avatar
oldtvman
Thread Starter
Navigator
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Default

yes those are the ones bought them from Ecklers
Reply
Old Aug 2, 2010 | 08:46 PM
  #10  
gkrynick22's Avatar
gkrynick22
Racer
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Marlborough CT
Default

Originally Posted by jrzvette
You should use adaptors, not spacers. Adaptors bolt onto the original studs and have their own studs for holding the wheel. With spacers you should replace the original studs with longer ones to give the lug nuts enough length to seat properly.

I have spacers on my 85 and I had spacers on my T/A for over a year with absolutely no problems. My theory is spacers are fine for normal street use. For the strip I would go with adapters for that little extra strength. My T/A had headers, full exhaust, 4.10 gears, and a tq converter. I drove it pretty hard and never had any problems with the spacers.
Reply
Old Aug 2, 2010 | 08:51 PM
  #11  
gkrynick22's Avatar
gkrynick22
Racer
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Marlborough CT
Default

Originally Posted by oldtvman
I bought a set of wheel spacers from Ecklers some time ago and I have a set of wheels and tires from a c6, trouble is when I installed the new set, some of the lugs on the spacers kept coming loose, I will probably try using lock washers unless someone else has a better idea.
I assume you must have replaced the studs for longer ones right? You could try a SMALL dab of "removable locktite" on the bolt. I would not use the washers because of what Socalman said, they are tapered and meant to center the rim.
Reply
Old Aug 2, 2010 | 08:51 PM
  #12  
mbowers13's Avatar
mbowers13
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 18
From: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrangeCorvettes/
Default

I used adapters, torqued them to about 100 if I remember. Did fine for me.
Reply
Old Aug 2, 2010 | 09:10 PM
  #13  
socalman's Avatar
socalman
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
Default

Originally Posted by oldtvman
yes those are the ones bought them from Ecklers
did you replace the wheels studs (you didn't need to- but if the nuts are coming loose in the adapter, maybe the new studs weren't pressed in all the way?).

If not, when running adapters- crank the nuts just like you would the wheel lugs- 100lbs. Then, remove the wheel after 50 miles and check the torque on the adapter bolts, just as you are advised to do when installing (or re-installing) new wheels.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To adding larger wheels to C4





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:07 PM.

story-0
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-5
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE